What's here?

[wrinklearthur]

Using Google maps I came across this, it looks like a outline of a airstrip.
Is it a forgotten strip from the World War 2 days?

-14.000691 126.04927
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[T.Middo]

Just had a look at it. to the west of trustcott?

If so its really hard to tell. if you squint you can see a rectangular airstrip shape. I'm a pilot so I'm used to spotting little bush strips. but this is very hard to see.

If it was a strip from WW2 i imagine it would be well and truly gone by now.

[solmanic]

You seriously just came across that? What were you doing? Scanning the entire top end at 100m zoom just for kicks? You need to get out more I think. :p

[solmanic]

Just had a look at it. to the west of trustcott?

If so its really hard to tell. if you squint you can see a rectangular airstrip shape. I'm a pilot so I'm used to spotting little bush strips. but this is very hard to see.

X2. Always on the lookout for forced landing options.

[T.Middo]

X2. Always on the lookout for forced landing options.

Haha too right. Unfortunately the aircraft i fly now is a little too big to land on most bush strips haha.

[460cixy]

Something has been cut in there but what it is could be anyone's guess

[Mick_Marsh]

A whole lot of nothing.

Yes, those lines do look interesting.

[JDNSW]

I think it may be geological - it extends across the scrub to the water in a SW direction, and if you follow the alignment to the NE it extends into the bay and below the water line.

John

[justinc]

Looks like a strip, what were you doing looking there arthur???:o:D


Oh, I know; plenty of storage room there for the odd series landy or 2,3,4,5,6,7 etc!:D

JC

[wrinklearthur]

You seriously just came across that? What were you doing? Scanning the entire top end at 100m zoom just for kicks? You need to get out more I think. :p

I watched a YouTube video clip on a bunch of guys restoring a ww2 bomber ( Kea bird? ) that was sitting in the Arctic, it ended in disaster when something came loose while they were moving it and it burnt to the ground. But that's getting away from this story.

Some time ago I was scanning the top end looking for the Truscott airstrip and came across a large-ish plane in the scrub near the coast and I was trying to relocate that one.
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[solmanic]

Haha too right. Unfortunately the aircraft i fly now is a little too big to land on most bush strips haha.

And they always look fine until short final then they turn into a ****ing moonscape.

[T.Middo]

And they always look fine until short final then they turn into a ****ing moonscape.

yeh what looks like a curated cricket pitch from the flight levels is usually the Himalayas once your down there and committed to it haha

[wrinklearthur]

Just had a look at it. to the west of trustcott?
Truscott Mungalalu Airport
For those who want to know where Truscott is -14.087297 126.38011

Visiting Truscott Airbase(part 1 of 3) - YouTube

Visiting Truscott Airbase(part 2) - YouTube

Truscott Airbase visit (part 3 of 3) - YouTube


Corunna Downs near Marble Bar

Secret WW11 air base in W.A. - YouTube

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[BigBlackDog]

That arctic plane rescue was sad viewing at the end :( certainly no fairy tale

[wrinklearthur]

Another site this one is now in a World Heritage area, the site is one of the two in the area made for exploration for Alluvial Gold, with the object still visible that was responsible for the mark.

-42.427357 146.242747

Clues;
Not a Caterpillar.
Jane River.
.

[KarlB]

Using Google maps I came across this, it looks like a outline of a airstrip.
Is it a forgotten strip from the World War 2 days?

-14.000691 126.04927
.

The site is on the Bougainville Peninsula which is part of the Uunguu - Stage 1 Indigenous Protected Area. I suspect that it may be related to some oil/gas exploration company - drill lines perhaps. It could be related to some defence activity dating back to WW2, especially given the closeness of Truscott. The people to contact are the Uunguu Rangers at the Kimberley Land Council. They patrol the area and may know some of the history of the Peninsula (see Uunguu Rangers « klc.org.au (http://klc.org.au/rangers/uungguu-rangers/)).

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[stallie]

I doubt it's an airstrip. Firstly it's not pointed in the prevailing wind direction, and there's no geographic reason not to. 10/28 is the norm around there.

And the dark area - which might be the centre of the old strip - seems uncannily aligned with the creek outlet to the SW. It might be vegetation change due a rock fault line?

And there are plenty of other straight lines there too. My guess is oil or mineral.:(

[Tote]

Looking at it with a different date selected it looks a lot more like a creek or natural drainage. Also measuring it I 'm flat out measuring more than 600 metres.

Hendersen Field in Honiara at -9.429814 160.050070 is about 3km long including the bit they don't use anymore.

Regards,
Tote

[GregTD5]

An interesting find, certainly doesn't look natural, as the lines are too straight and parallel. It does look a bit short for a strip, particularly as it looks like the terrain would support more length to the NE.
Im not sure that there is enough lines on it for exploration, although all the exploration lines around Mitchell Plateau don't show too well on Google earth either.
During WW11 all of the Northern Coast had soldiers posted along it, as observation posts looking for any one trying to invade from the North.
As a Pilot, that has done a lot of low level flying in the Top End, I must say you do see a lot of unusual things out there, that just is not natural. Plenty of bits of old machinery in places you would think no one has ever been to before.

Greg